1. The Man Born Blind
John 9

2. Is Jesus Divine? The Issue: Does this prove Jesus is Divine?
Could admit the miracle and accept His Diety
Could admit the miracle but attribute it to some other power
Could dismiss the evidence as a hoax
Could take a neutral stand
The attitudes of the witnesses teach us a lot about attitudes toward truth

3. The Neighbors:
Ignored the obvious
Ignored the obvious

4. Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?“ Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he.“
John 9.8-9
As many ignore the obvious today in other Scriptures…

5. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Mark 16.16
Concerning baptism

6. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
Ephesians 4.4
Concerning the church

7. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6.4
Concerning what baptism is…

8. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Galatians 5.4
Concerning the Law of Moses…

9. not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Hebrews 10.25
Concerning the assembly of the saints

10. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”
Matthew 19.9
Concerning divorce

11. Divided over the obvious
The Neighbors:
Divided over the obvious
Divided over the obvious

12. Some said, "This is he. " Others said, "He is like him
Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him." He said, "I am he."
John 9.9
The neighbors were divided…

13. Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.
John 9.16
The religious leaders were divided…

14. Took it to religious leaders
The Neighbors:
Took it to religious leaders
Took it to religious leaders

15. They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees.
John 9.13
Many think they have to have some religious leader to tell them what to believe…
Can’t seem to trust the obvious
Let a select group study for them and swallow what they say…
And the leaders love it so…

16. Religious Leaders:
Clouded the issue…
Not about the Sabbath…

17. Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes.
Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.“
John

18. Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.
John 9.16
Others cloud the issue today with words like “water salvation” or “church salvation” or “works salvation”
Even brethren cloud the issue by saying we would let the orphans and non-Christians die before the church would help.

19. Religious Leaders: Jumped positions… vv16-24 First “no miracle”
Then a miracle, but He didn’t do it…
Then He must have used some demonic power???

20. Religious Prejudice…v22
Religious Leaders:
Religious Prejudice…v22
Decision already made before any evidence presented…

21. Religious Leaders: Religious Arrogance… vv28-29, 34
Everybody but themselves a sinner…

22. Feared consequences of confessing belief…
The Parents:
Feared consequences of confessing belief…
Fear of consequences underlies many refusals to believe and obey…
Many Jews believed but were afraid to confess Him…

23. His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.
John 9.22
Fear of confession of Christ will cost many their souls…

24. Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
John
Fear of confession of Christ will cost many their souls…

25. "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.
But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.
Matthew
Fear of confession of Christ will cost many their souls…

26. The Blind Man: Went with what he knew… Didn’t know it all…
But didn’t need anybody to tell him what was obvious
Wouldn’t be intimidated…
Willing to accept the evidence…
and the consequences!

27. Is Jesus Divine? The Issue:
If He is the Son of God…then you have an obligation to obey Him

28. 'And now why are you waiting
'And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.'
Acts 22.16
Then obey Him today…now.